The Department of Criminal Justice can be liable for certain inmate-caused property damage, injury, or death, but only if the listed conditions are met. A claimant may not name the inmate or state jail defendant as a codefendant, and the section does not apply to harm sustained by an inmate or state jail defendant.
Sec. 101.029. LIABILITY FOR CERTAIN CONDUCT OF STATE PRISON INMATES. (a) The Department of Criminal Justice is liable for property damage, personal injury, and death proximately caused by the wrongful act or omission or the negligence of an inmate or state jail defendant housed in a facility operated by the department if: (1) the property damage, personal injury, or death arises from the operation or use of a motor-driven vehicle or motor-driven equipment; (2) the inmate or defendant would be personally liable to the claimant for the property damage, personal injury, or death according to Texas law were the inmate or defendant a private person acting in similar circumstances; and (3) the act, omission, or negligence was committed by the inmate or defendant acting in the course and scope of a task or activity that: (A) the inmate or defendant performed at the request of an employee of the department; and (B) the inmate or defendant performed under the control or supervision of the department. (b) A claimant may not name the inmate or state jail defendant whose act or omission gave rise to the claim as a codefendant in an action brought under this section. (c) A judgment in an action or a settlement of a claim against the Department of Criminal Justice under this section bars any action involving the same subject matter by the claimant against the inmate or state jail defendant whose act or omission gave rise to the claim. A judgment in an action or a settlement of a claim against an inmate or state jail defendant bars any action involving the same subject matter by the claimant against the Department of Criminal Justice under this section. (d) This section does not apply to property damage, personal injury, or death sustained by an inmate or state jail defendant. Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 321, Sec. 1.108, eff. Sept. 1, 1995. Amended by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 313, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999. SUBCHAPTER C. EXCLUSIONS AND EXCEPTIONS